Talking clock



April 12, 1938. R, SCHAEFER I 2,114,239

TALKING CLOCK Filed Dec. 7, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l arm um April 12, 1938. R. A. SCHAEFER TALKING CLOCK Filed Dec. 7, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 31w c-MM R di 50% afar. flmmug Patented Apr. 12, 1938 TALKING CLOGK RudolphA. Schaefer, Louisville, Ky., assignor of one-half to Robert G. May, Louisville, Ky.

Application December 7, 1933, Serial No. 701,395

1 Claim. (Cl. 20026) This invention relates to a clock mechanism adapted to announce the time at suitable intervals, in words, in order that the time will be known at distances from the clock and may be ascertained without observing the clock.

One object is to provide a novel mechanism controlled through the operation of an ordinary spring motor clock, in connection with a combination of phonograph and radio mechanism to announce the time at intervals.

Another object is to provide a novel construction whereby the electromagnetic pick-up or reproducer for the phonograph apparatus, will be automatically returned to its starting point at the end of a day or other period of operation.

Various additional objects and. advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a view of the improved mechanism in side elevation,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the mechanism,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the record tablet used,

Figure 6 is a view showing the parts in electrical diagram,

Figure 7 is a plan view of the reproducerreturning disk, and

Figure 8 is a detail section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Referring specifically to the drawings, l0 designates a conventional spring motor clock or timepiece suitably supported as at H. The shaft I2 is connected to or forms an extension of the minute-hand shaft 8 of said clock In from which it is insulated at 9, and it carries a block [3 primarily of insulation. Embedded in the block I3 is a conductor ring l4 having diametrically opposite contacts I5. Ring I4 is in conducting relation with the shaft l2 and on such shaft is a contact 16. One of said contacts I5: is adapted every thirty minutes or any other desired intervals of time to engage contact l'l while the contact i6 is in constant frictional engagement with a contact I8.

Contacts l1 and I8 are connected to a suitable support IQ of insulation carried by a base at 20, and are also connected to electric conductors 2| and 22. Said conductor 2| and a conductor 23 are connected to a plug 24 adapted for detachable engagement with an outlet box or the like of the house lighting or other electric current supply. Conductors 22 and 23 lead to an electric motor 25 forming part of a conventional phonograph 26 supported on the base 20. The motor 25 drives or rotates the record spindle 21 of said phonograph which extends above the platform 28, with which it is rigid and which it rotates.

In connection with said phonograph, instead of the usual disk record, I use a disk record as generally suggested at 29, made of the usual wax composition or other material, and having the sound grooves at 30, spirally isolated, so that an announcement of the time will be made every half hour, such as one oclock P. M., one thirty oclock P. M., two oclock P. M., etc., and with the record blank intermediate such announcing portions. Obviously, the announcements may be made more or less frequently as desired according to the particular sound grooves 30 which are used. The record 29 has the usual central opening at 3|, whereby it may be removably placed on the platform or table 28 with the shaft 21 extending through such opening 3|. Coacting with the grooves 30 of the record is an electromagnetic pick-up or reproducer 32, the needle of which directly engages the grooves being shown at 33. This device is of conventional form and. carried by an arm at 34 which is pivotally or universally connected as at 35 to the frame of the phonograph 26.

Means is preferably provided whereby the reproducer and needle will be automatically returned to the starting point at the end of a desired period, the record usually being made for a twenty-four hour period. To this end a removable disk of aluminum, glass or the like 38 is superposed on the record disk having a radial slot 38' through which the needle 33 extends. Connecting opposite ends of such slot 38 is a shoulder or groove 38" of cam form, to the end that when the needle reaches the inner end of the slot 38', it will engage the groove or shoulder 38" and follow the same until it reaches the other end of the slot 38 which is the initial position or starting point.

Extending from the electromagnetic pick-up 33 are conductors 36 which lead to a suitable radio receiving and amplifying set generally designated 31. The wires 36 are connected to the detector stage of said radio apparatus 31 and the apparatus also has an audio and an output stage. The input current for the radio 3'! is received through wires 38 connected to a plug 39 adapted for detachable engagement with an outlet plug of house lighting or other suitable current. A loud speaker 40 is connected by wires 4| with the radio apparatus 31.

The radio apparatus 31 as well as the loud speaker 40 are suitably supported on the base 20 and the amplifier extends within a hollow cabinet 42 on said base, which cabinet has an open grill or the like 43 in line with the loud speaker. The cabinet, above the grill may have a clock 44, which of course is additional to and independent of the apparatus, it, however, enabling one to observe the time, if not intent upon hearing the time audibly announced in words every thirty minutes or other desired intervals at the grill 43.

As a result of the invention it will be realized that the time is announced in words every thirty minutes or at any other intervals desired. The apparatus only operates when the circuit through the phonograph is closed at the contacts IS-II, the contacts I6l8 always being in engagement;

thus when the device is not announcing the phonograph is idle as well as the radio apparatus 3'! controlled thereby.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

In a time-delayed switch, a continuous driven conductor shaft, a cylindrical block of insulation carried by said shaft adjacent one end of the latter, the other end of the shaft projecting beyond the block for attachment to a driving means, a conductor ring on the periphery of said block in conducting relationship with said shaft, said ring having radial projections thereon and in conducting relation therewith, a contact in constant frictional engagement with one end of said shaft, and a normally open contact engageable by said projections.

RUDOLPH A. SCHAEFER. 

